CalSci Windshield Update

[wb5tty]

Mark called me yesterday and told me the Implex plastic was in for making the smaller shields and the thick was on the way. Mark wanted me to know he had added a new size which is between the Medium and Large. He told me it was simular to the CB +6W +2H. I told him I would give it a try and let him know what I thought about the new size. Mark told me I could return the shield if I didn't like it and he would make one of the larger ones for me.

I think Mark is trying hard to be customer friendly and put out a good product. He has my support and I will try to work with him. I believe we will all have a very good ST1300 windshield option in the end. :)

[GRN]

Anthony, I'm with you... I like Mark and have faith he'll prevail. I sent back my shield and told him I would just work with the stock shield for the summer, and revisit a larger sheild with him in fall for the colder weather after he got some development behind him. I'm betting the new size works with the deflectors? Let us know how it works man :)

[Ken]

Please be sure to keep us posted. I'm always looking for updates on windshields, and hoping that some day one shield will be become the clear cut favorite, and a group buy will ensue.

[wb5tty]

I will post info on the new windshield. I have the Honda Mirror Wind Deflectors so I will let everyone know how that works. Mark tells me he thinks the current run will need a notch cut for the Honda Mirror Wind Deflectors. I will take pictures too. :D

[Bribak]

Anthony,

I will really be interested in your opinions/pictures on this new shield. I like Mark's design but have been waiting for a slightly smaller than LARGE offering. Keep us posted!
Thanks for the update, Brian

[wb5tty]

I got the new Large Size CalSci windshield today and tested it to 100 Mph.

The good news ->

It is the best wind shield I have ever ridden behind. There is no back pressure and minimal turbulence for the driver. There were no strange noises at any speed from 1 to 100 Mph. The plastic is clear even on a hot Texas afternoon. I like the size of the shield ( I am 5' 7" ).

The bad news ->

The windshield had a very sharp edge on the driver left side I had to plane off so it would not damage the finish on my ST in case it did not clear. The windshield does not clear the Honda mirror wind deflectors! There is serious distortion on my windshield in the center top area about 1.5 X 5 inches. It appears the laser cutter might have heated the surrounding plastic. I noticed what appeared to be small bubbles on the edge in a couple of places

Additional Info ->

The distortion is hard to photograph as I don't have the correct type of lens on my digital camera. I was surprised CalSci sent out the windshield with the defects since it was my third windshield. I have the electric windshield and it is in the full up position for the picture. I would ride with it down about one inch from max up. The new size windshield is about 2 inches wider than stock at the bottom and about 2 inches taller.

[GRN]

Anthony,

first, I am going to scold you for keeping that bike so damned clean... your making some of us look BAD.

second... and more seriously, what position do you have the mounting brackets? I like mine in the high position to help keep the angle of the sheild down as much as possible when raised a bit (angle increases the further up you run it). If it's in the low position (the factory position if you have never changed it), do you believe it would clear if mounted in the higher position - about 2" higher up the mounting bracket?

Thanx, and I sure hope all of your good faith here pays off man.

[Bribak]

Anthony,

Is this the new "in-between size"? Mark's site still shows the LARGE size to be 6.5" wider and 4" taller than stock. Your new one doesn't look that big in the photos. Do you have the exact measurements of it? Was it the same price as the Large size listed on his site ($215)?
Has Mark commented on the center distortion? It is hard to imagine him sending you this one with a flaw in it (knowing you had to return your previous one). It appears his design is excellent but his quality control is slightly lacking. I think this size & design is exactly what I'm looking for. I will always be looking over the shield, so a distortion would probably not be that big a deal to me (but I would hate buying something brand new with a flaw in it from the git-go).
Thanks for the photos and comments. If it's not too much trouble, could we see a close up of the distortion?
Again, thanks for your update. I will be watching for any additional comments you have on it.

Brian

[jnsgardner]

I went for the large shield because I was hoping it would extend the wind shadow to include my wife. It doesn't seem to though she never rode with the stock windshield. She still gets buffeted. Knowing what I know now, I would go for the shield in between large and medium though I doubt that CalSci would go for an exchange because I had to make a relief with a dremil on the right to clear my mirror at the fully down position.

I also noticed the slight distortion at the top that Anthony mentioned, but I like to ride seeing over rather than through so the distortion isn't really bothersome. I'm 5'9" and my line of sight is about 3" over the top with the shield fully down and a good 4" under the top with the shield fully extended.

I got the under mirror deflectors and they are a nice addition. Bite my tongue, but they are similar to the ones on the Beemer cruiser.

I also got the belly pan w/ scoop shield. Can't tell if it does any good, but it sure looks cool. I used fender washer style pop rivets with 2" spacing. My lower fairing cowls are now permanently joined together now, but it's only another 5 bolts and they both come off as one piece.

Mark, if you read this, perhaps we can work some sort of exchange for aaaaa... consumer trial, test, and feedback purposes. :-)

John Gardner

[wb5tty]

The distortion is hard to photograph as I don't have the correct type of lens on my digital camera. I was surprised CalSci sent out the windshield with the defects since it was my third windshield. I have the electric windshield and it is in the full up position for the picture. I would ride with it down about one inch from max up. The new size windshield is about 2 inches wider than stock at the bottom and about 2 inches taller.

I took the CalSci off and put it back in the box. It will be on its way back to CalSci. I think Mark has a great design in the new size but I think I will hold off on a purchase untill the bugs are cleared up.

[wb5tty]

I emailed my review to CalSci so Mark could take a look at the windshield and make corrections to his process.

[GRN]

Anthony, I'm still curious about what position your mounting brackets are in. Have you ever changed them from the factory position, and if not, if the shield started out 2' higher in the lowest position would it still hit the deflectors?

Thanks,
Greg

[wb5tty]

I have not made any changes to the brackets. I thought you could only do that on the 2003 without electric winshield. You learn something new almost every day.

[gerrys]

I just got a new large Calsi windshield. No distortion. It will come into contact with the bike if lowered to the max, so I need to be careful when lowering it. No back pressure in any position. I'm very satisfied with it. :biker:

[Bribak]

gerrys,

Could you possibly post a picture of the new Large size on your bike. How is the airflow (much buffetting?). What is your height?
Thanks for the update.
Brian

[Tor]

Anthony,

Wouldn't it look real nice mounting a Tarheel screwdriver on the lid of your topbox? And maybe a TS480 on the dash......maan.

BTW, 73's to you

Ride Safe

Tor / K4TOR

[wb5tty]

Tor did you notice the Dual Band Antenna? I have a Yaesu FT50R connected to the AutoCom Active 7 syaytem. It works great. 73 De WB5TTY

[wb5tty]

Gerrys glad you got a good Large windshield. The design is first class. The one I received had small bubbles along the edge. I think the laser cutter heated the material causing the small bubbles. Also about 8 inches of the edge was very poorly cut and finished. Sounds like mark has fine tuned his operation. I did spend $70 returning windshields with defects so I gave up. The first 2 had the haze when the temp got above 90 degrees F and the third one had the bubbles on the edge. I paid for the exta large but my refund was for the new large. Being $120 down I gave up and cut down my old CB. I wish I could get a windshield made from the CB material with Mark's design. :cool:

[Tor]

Anthony,

Yep I saw that,,,,I was just pickin' at ya. Nice bike. Looking for an ST myself. Riding a Spirit 1100 for now. My wife, who rides an Aero 750, is looking for an ST too. So this ought to be fun. I just hope to God her legs are long enough to be able to ride it.

Take Care,

tor